Folding the last edge of the paper <br />he pointed the folds <br />into the palm of his hand, <br />closing it in a clockwork swirl <br />he forms a fist. <br />Turning to the children, <br />He spoke… <br />‘What do you see? ’ <br />‘A hand… <br />…a fist’, said the other. <br />Without acknowledgement <br />He asked, ‘Do you see the butterfly? ’ <br />As if to turn, <br />and search the skies <br />The children shook their heads. <br />Slowly, gently <br />Unfolding his fingers like petals <br />He tenderly placed his finger <br />On the square of paper… <br />‘Do You see the Butterfly? ’ <br />wide eyes and indignant laugh <br />revealed the children’s Puzzlement. <br />‘It’s a piece of paper’ <br />became their mantra <br />Raising his eyebrows, <br />quiet finger to lips <br />he recaptures their attention. <br />‘Look, do you see the Butterfly? ’ <br />the slip of paper pinched <br />between finger and thumb <br />‘Do You see the Butterfly? ’ <br />Restless, the children <br />Shuffled from foot to foot <br />Peering around and about <br />As if looking through <br />the finger and thumb <br />‘It’s just a piece of paper! ’ <br />mocking adult indifference <br />the children say again <br />‘it’s a piece of paper…’ <br />Then let us see, he unfolds <br />The first edge opened <br />doubles the dimension <br />of what is visible <br />With his thumbs he expands <br /> the dimension a step further <br />‘Do you see the butterfly? ’ <br />with taut Patience <br />the children snap <br />‘it’s hidden…it’s hidden…. <br />How can we see <br />What is hidden…’ <br />Until it is unfolded? <br />Do You see the Butterfly?<br /><br />Adrian Wait<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-unseen-butterfly/
